Locomotive smokestack



May 6, 1941. E. R LEWIS 2,241,311 yLodo'raonv: sMQKEsTAoK Filled June 25, 194D INVENToR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 6, 1941 :2 Claims.

This invention relates to smekestacks for lo eomotives.

`Smokestacks of this type as heretofore constructed' have been detachably secured to bases which, in turn, are supported on and attached to the boiler. Extensions have been supported from these bases so as to extend into the smokeboxes. The arrangement thus far provided, however, has exposed portions of the bases to the `action of the smoke and gases escaping through the extension and stack and this has resulted in the rapid deterioration. of the base where so exposed. Consequently frequent renewals of the base have been necessary. This has been a slow and expensive procedure because, due to the transverse curvature of the boiler where engaged by the base, each base has required careful fitting in order to rest snugly on the surface to which it is attached. This fitting has been done by hand because the contours of the supporting surfaces are rarely uniform.

A further disadvantage generally present in smokestacks is the necessity of removing the front plate of the boiler in order to disconnect and repair the stack extension located in the smokebox.

An object of the present invention is to provide a base which, after once being fitted to the boiler and attached thereto, need not thereafter be removed because the stack and its extension are supported in direct end to end contact, thereby preventing the escaping smoke from causing erosion of the base.

A further object is to provide the stack with an extension which can be inserted downwardly through the base and removed upwardly therethrough when replacements are necessary, this operation being eifected without the necessity of disturbing the connection between the base and the boiler.

A still further object is to provide simple but eicient means for engaging and holding the extension xedly in proper position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a central vertical transverse section through the structure constituting the present invention, a portion of the boiler being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, B designates a portion of a locomotive boiler. As is true or" all boilers of this type, the top thereof is curved transversely and is provided with a stack opening O.

In the present structure there is welded, riveted orotherwise attached to the boiler an annular flange l forming the marginal portion of a base 2, said base being shaped to be seated within the opening O and having a flat bottom surface While the flange 2 which extends around the base follows the contour of that portion of the boiler surface to be engaged by the flange. In other words the flange is bowed transversely but is extended along straight lines lengthwise of the boiler.

Base 2 has an opening 3 extending therethrough and the upper portion of this opening is enlarged as at 4 to provide an annular seat 5.

A stack extension 6 of any suitable length is adapted to extend into the smoke-box of a boiler as ordinarily. This extension is provided, at its upper end, with a collar 'l the diameter of which is substantially equal to the smallest diameter of the opening 3. An annular groove 8 is formed in the collar and is designed to receive the opposed arcuate members 9 of a split ring. This ring is proportioned not only to extend into groove ii but also to project outwardly from the collar where it can rest on the annular shoulder or seat 5. The ring has an annular portion 9 which surrounds that portion of the collar between groove 8 and the upper end of extension 6 and when the split ring and the extension are all assembled with the base, the upper faces thereof will be ush wi-th or slightly above the upper surface of the base 2.

The stack of the locomotive has been indicated at l@ and is formed with a collar Il at its lower end from which are extended ears I2. These ears are adapted to receive screw-threaded studs I3 `anchored within and projecting upwardly from the base. Thus it will be rseen that when the studs are inserted through :the ears and the parts tightened, as by means of nuts I4, the lower end of the stack l0 will be caused to bind tightly against the upper end of the extension 6, thereby forming a continuous ilue from the lower end of extension 6 to the upper end of sta-ck l0 and preventing any of the products of combustion from contacting with any part of the base as they flow outwardly through this ue.

To remove the extension 6 for the purpose of making repairs or replacing it with a new one, it is merely necessary to detach stack l0. The extension 6 and the split ring surrounding it are then lifted through the base. To insert an eX- tension in the boiler the split ring is placed in position Within groove 8 and about the upper portion of `collar 1 after which said ring `and the collar are lowered into the base so that the ring will engage and be supported by the seat 5. Stack l is then placed in position and fastened as already explained.

By utilizing a structure such as described, no replacements of the base `are necessary. Consequently this base can be permanently attached to the boilerby welding or riveting. Furthermore removal of the extension generally can be effected without removing the front plat-e of the boiler.

It will be noted that the stack and its extension come together in a plane which is outside of the base 2. Thus should there occur any leakage between the stack and extension, the escaping products `of combustion would not contact with and cause erosion of the base.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with `a boiler smoke box having an opening, of a base secured to the smoke box and projecting into the opening, said base having 4an opening therethrough and an annular seat within the opening, a ring comprising opposed arcuate members supported by and extending inwardly from the seat, a stack extension having Ia collar at its upper end within Ithe opening in the base, said collar .being provided with an annular groove in which the ring is removably seated, said ring, collar and seat `cooperating to support the extension detachably within the base, a stack above the base and fitted snugly at its lower end upon the upper end of the stack extension, and means for detachably connecting the stack to the base and holding said stack and extension in intimate Contact at their meeting ends. 2. The combination with a boiler smoke box having an opening therein, of la base seated in the opening, said base having an annular flange tted snugly to the smoke box about the opening and joined thereto to form an integral pant thereof, the base being provided with an opening and an int-erior annular seat in said opening, a stack extension proportioned for insertion through the base opening into the smoke boX, a collar on the extension havin-g an annular groove, a ring removably supported on the seat and projecting into the groove, an annular flange on the ring positioned to extend around that portion of the collar above the groove, a stack bearing at its lower end on the collar and ring flange, and detachable means connecting the stack to the base for binding the stack in Contact with .the eXtension and ring ange in axial alinement with the extension, said extension and stack being of the same Yinternal diameter.

ERNEST R. LEWIS. 

